Good Moods [fin]

Erisi was in a good mood. Valerian had kept him company for nearly the entire day before, and that had been some genuinely good fun. Erisi was always happier after a good lay, but it was rare for his mood to extend so far into the next day. If he really thought about it, he'd probably be disturbed that Valerian could coerce him into such an unusually pleasant demeanor. It implied far too many things that Erisi was not comfortable with, but as always Valerian seemed to slip under Erisi's radar. Valerian was laid back and unassuming, the sort of friend that was a perfect match for Erisi's more dominant attitude.

Charath was up to the same exact antics she had been the previous day. Her victim, however, was different. Later in the evening the poor Candidate she had been tormenting had finally cracked, and now that Charath had secured that victory she was moving on through the Candidate ranks. Earlier in the morning she managed to unnerve someone so much within the first hour that she decided to switch targets. Charath liked a challenge! So, in-between rendezvous with Valerian, she had singled out a new Candidate. Erisi figured it kept her busy while he walked the lakeside.

He had found some wherry eggs yesterday (some people were claiming them to be firelizards, and Erisi was amused by the various responses to that), but he wasn't necessarily looking for me. He did have to cart those things back home, and while they were tiny, he did not want an entire pile of eggs. Erisi assumed that someone at the Weyr would want them, mainly to raise wherries and produce more eggs. It was some silly beastcrafting stuff that Erisi had never been interested in. Too dirty. But, if he could get a fair trade out of them, then it'd be worth it. The poor man had no idea that they were duds. Again, he was not a beastcraft, for Faranth's sake. Valerian would likely get a good laugh out of it when his eggs finally did hatch, and Erisi's did not.

I am proud of you. Charath crooned in such a way that made Erisi doubt that she was.

'...Why?'

You spent all day yesterday with Valerian. I appreciate your effort to ensure that I get more time with him.

Of course.

R’nd had surprisingly been enjoying the camping trip so far. It wasn’t overly surprisingly if one only looked at the location, knowing the bluerider was a water baby and loved the lake. It was the act of living in a tent and foraging more than usual that was the part that would trip up most people when they tried to reconcile the smile on R’nd’s face. An old Earth term that would have been perfect to describe him was ‘metrosexual’ with how he cared so much about his looks and didn’t overly enjoy the idea of roughing it. Indivara, however, thought ‘delicate’ still worked wonderfully to describe him now.

Of course no one would blame him if he wasn’t having fun since it was obvious he was there because B’jin, the new class’ Weyrling Master, had asked him to come along. It had been hard to say no and everyone would know it. R’nd was weak to pouts and teary eyes and B’jin seemed to have mastered both and used them to his advantage when needed. There was another reason though. Since Larrikith’s flight where that brown monster won, B’jin had been clingier and quieter and didn’t like to have R’nd out of his sights for long. R’nd couldn’t blame him. He had murder written clearly in his expressive grey eyes every time S’kef was mentioned and B’jin’s fear for him getting hurt again was the only reason R’nd didn’t hunt the bastard down and attack him. If B’jin was away camping, leaving R’nd and S’kef alone at the weyr, it was hard to say what would happen.

But the trip was relaxing with R’nd enjoying the sound of the water lapping at the shore and he found he even sort of liked being a mentor of sorts to the younger riders that came along and the Candidates. Unlike some other dragonriders, R’nd did his best to socialize with the Candidates when they arrived at Katila, wanting to make them feel comfortable and accepted. Some said he went a bit too far and beyond what was necessary with his method of greeting but that was neither here nor there. He wouldn’t say he wanted to be a Harper to teach all the time but the few days away with the group and watching B’jin lead them was a tad inspiring and R’nd decided he would definitely put in an effort to help in the classes he was invited to instead of just showing up.

R’nd found himself that afternoon taking a stroll along the shore as well, though he wasn’t searching for eggs like so many others had taken to wasting their time on. He simply liked the activity. He hadn’t really been looking around for other people either, lost in his thoughts and the sounds of nature, but his gaze finally did land on someone a few dragonlengths ahead of him. A moment later he recognized the form as Erisi and a quick jog to catch up was given. It had been ages since he had seen the green weyrling and been able to talk with him though the bluerider wasn’t sure why. Probably just weyrling classes taking up too much time.

“Erisi!” He called out when he was almost caught up. When he reached his friend, the pace slowed and there was no shortage of breath. He had always been in decent enough shape but R’nya’s wing training was making sure he toned up even more and that short jog didn’t bother him in the least. A playful smile showed itself as R’nd recalled a couple of complaints he overheard during breakfast that morning, “I hear Charath is making new friends lately.”

There were plenty of reasons why Erisi no longer went out of his way to see R'nd. One would assume it was because the bluerider was now 'off the market', so to speak, after hitching up with B'jin. Erisi did not mind that so much, the fact that R'nd was in a relationship (he didn't see the point in that either - R'nd clearly liked to sleep around and a relationship was doomed to get in the way of that desire). What he did mind was who R'nd was in a relationship with. B'jin. Erisi did not have the same enchantment with the man that so many of his acquaintances seemed to possess. Talian viewed B'jin as a father figure, despite the fact that B'jin had wrenched Talian away from his old life and forced him into a new one. Now Talian was going to Stand at the next Hatching when the Healer clearly wanted nothing to do with dragons.  Valerian seemed to be oddly at ease with B'jin, and their's was a friendship that Erisi found to be completely off-putting. It just so happened that he was fond enough of Valerian to forgive that transgression against their friendship. R'nd was clearly in... well, emotionally tied to the Searchrider.

Quite frankly, he found it to be rather disgusting that B'jin seemed to slip through situations scotch free (of course Erisi neglected to think of all the misfortunes that had befallen the man). Maybe, just a little, Erisi hated that B'jin received so much positive attention, and stole his friend's attention from him in the process. What it amounted to was that Erisi did not even go near B'jin. If he had, it would have quickly devolved into an argument on his part. Erisi wasn't willing to risk his few friendships by going after B'jin, but if the greenrider came around him there was bound to be friction.

Since R'nd was around B'jin so often, he was merely a casualty in Erisi's quest to avoid the insufferable greenrider. His hatred of the man had last long enough that it was considered severe by Erisi's standards (which were naturally intensified from other people's interpretation of emotion). Besides, remove the sex from their relationship and R'nd was little more than pleasant company, and there were plenty of other people who could be pleasant company too... with sex on the side. Still, it was a sad loss. Erisi really did like R'nd, but he liked the R'nd that wasn't tangled up with B'jin more.

He was thoroughly surprised then, when R'nd seemed to be chasing him down. He downright looked confused when he heard his name, stopping in his tracks and turning around as R'nd caught up to him. Oh, well, fancy that! Erisi had no reason to be hostile towards the bluerider, he still did like the man well enough! It was just so much better when he was available for some fooling around... not that Erisi was actually in the mood for that anyways. Valerian had done a good enough job of filling him up.

"Hey, R'nd," he greeted with a small smile. It was unusual for Erisi to give much more than that. He was a hard person to warm up to. "Ah, you mean all these sharding Candidates she's been nagging? Yeah, then I guess she's made bunches of friends. I'm waiting for them all to realize that she's my dragon. They'll likely bombard me with complaints." And then he'd not do anything to stop his dragon just out of vengeance. Sweet, delicious, Green vengeance. "Soooo... how's life?"

Please don't talk about B'jin. Please don't talk about B'jin. It'd be such a mood killer.

R’nd gave a light laugh at Erisi’s take on Charath’s socialising skills. She was a slightly entertaining dragon with some of her pranks but the bluerider was glad he wasn’t bonded to her. He sometimes felt Ayyonth was enough of a handful with how he liked to pick on his rider and side with Kerrin when they had arguments but at least he didn’t terrorize anyone. But it seemed like Erisi had found a way to deal with Charath, or at least give off the impression that they weren’t driving each other insane constantly anymore. That was a good start and likely the best they would get. R’nd wasn’t foolish enough to think such a determined and strong-willed green would be easily corralled.

The drawn out way the vague question was given was a bit odd and R’nd tilted his head to the side for a moment considering. Their relationship had been more physical than anything else and since Erisi Impressed, they hadn’t been allowed to really even touch innocently without potentially upsetting Charath. That was probably the main reason they had drifted and the impromptu reunion was a bit odd on the weyrling’s end. Mentally shrugging any worries away, R’nd tried to figure out how to sum up how life was in the easiest way since Erisi probably wasn’t looking for specifics or a four hour catch-up. “Life’s great. A few bumps but otherwise life has been treating me fairly. How about you? Have you taken up the hobby of taking long strolls along the beach?” R’nd doubted that, unless the reason behind it was to search for more eggs. He couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to, especially after how scary B’jin was in regards to the subject of firelizards.

Their relationship had relied on R'nd's charm and well, a great deal of physical intimacy. One of those things had been removed the moment Erisi Impressed, and now that R'nd was shacked up that was something that couldn't be rekindled. It was a wonder that Erisi displayed any interest in R'nd now. This was one of the few things that proved that Erisi sometimes had interest in things beyond getting laid. It may be a rare occurrence, but no one could deny its existence. While his relationship with Valerian was sexual, everyone could see as clear as day that they were friends first. From what everyone else could see, Erisi's friendship with Talian was devoid of any such intimacy. So, he had the capacity to just be friends with someone... but really, why do it when he could be friends with benefits?

Thank Faranth not one word of B'jin was mentioned. He wasn't sure if R'nd was aware of his aversion to the greenrider, but he'd never made any real attempt to hide it. Likely, it'd ruin his friendship with R'nd completely the moment R'nd accidentally led him into a situation where he'd bitch about the Searchrider. He'd have kissed R'nd for leaving the greenrider out of their conversation, but he imagined that would be fairly inappropriate considering R'nd's now tied status. Ugh, it made him sick just thinking about it. The closest Erisi was capable of getting to a relationship was what he shared with Valerian, and that clearly was... well, not remotely close.

"I've had classes, which keep Charath busy and gives me an opportunity to relax. But really, not much else on my end either." Of course, having a dragon like Charath made life far more interesting than Erisi was making it sound. He just knew that R'nd was aware of how much Charath kept Erisi on his toes. There was no point in mentioning it. "Yesterday a long stroll on the beach led to a nice hookup, so pardon me if I'm not so stupid as to avoid trying it again," Erisi answered with a playful smile. He wasn't flirting with R'nd, rather avoiding bringing up the fact that he was keeping an eye out for eggs. They were excellent argument fodder. Erisi could now care less of what was actually in the eggs. It was what everyone else thought was in them that was important. "Plus, it's a good way to avoid everyone else. Most people are more of an annoyance than anything else. At least they're mostly busy with this mad egg hunt."

“Ah right, I heard about that stroll and hook-up,” it was hard not to when both came back with eggs afterward. He had also seen them depart into the woods together, looking pretty interested in each other and no one else. Good for them! It was nice having a friend like that and it was even better that they managed to wait until they were well out of sight. “I’d let you see where this stroll takes you but I wouldn’t want to sap the rest of your energy and leave you in a foul mood for the rest of the trip,” R’nd grinned mischievously as he grabbed Erisi around the waist to pull him close and dance them around in a small circle with a few steps before letting go. Erisi may not have been flirting with him but R’nd knew he was playfully teasing the green weyrling and also knew it wouldn’t go any further. They had had some fun before Erisi Impressed but R’nd wasn’t even sure if the man was still interested in him now.

He laughed at the annoyance in Erisi’s voice over his opinion about most people and the activities they had taken up while on the trip. For the most part, R’nd could understand the sentiment. He generally liked everyone and could tolerate a lot but he did find the craziness over the eggs to be odd and unnecessary. Maybe if it was pre-plague and he was still a young boy he would have been running around with everyone hoping to find a nest so he could Impress a firelizard but he was twenty turns over and a lot had changed in that time. “It is a pretty good way to avoid all of that. I guess that’s sort of why I’m out here as well. Which probably means I should leave you to your stroll so we can go back to being alone and enjoying the quiet, huh?”

Erisi scoffed at the implication that he was exhausted from yesterday's adventure with Valerian. He was hardly tired, rather he was sated. Valerian usually knew how to keep Erisi pleased until their next hookup, or Erisi found someone else to crawl into bed with. It was easy to talk about sex with R'nd, mostly because that was all they had ever really talked about it. In the past, they had flirted, and they had wound up in bed with each other a few times. That wasn't impossible to ignore, but when he wanted to think about it, he could. "Does it look like my energy is even remotely sapped?" he answered coyly.

He would never get used to R'nd's spurts of spontaneity. Erisi looked visibly flustered when arms wrapped around his waist and he was drawn into an unusual dance with the bluerider. While R'nd had intended it to be a teasing action, he should have known better than to try and tease Erisi. All the Weyrling cared to take note of was how R'nd was embarrassing him, and that the man was very nicely close to him for a few seconds. Sure, he had an aversion to R'nd because of the man's... status with a certain often-bitched-about greenrider. He considered R'nd to be fairly tied, and didn't expect the man to start sleeping around.

But, really, R'nd brought it down upon himself when Erisi started to feel flirtatious. He glowered briefly at the bluerider when R'nd released him, but didn't outright scold the man for his bold action. Instead, he honed in on the man's next words. It was clear he could walk away or flirt with the bluerider. He had to admit, flirting was so much more fun, and maybe it would serve the extra purpose of irritating B'jin.

Okay, that was a nice thought. Even if R'nd was tainted by B'jin, it would be a nice way to take a little jab at the greenrider, even if B'jin wasn't aware of it. So, when R'nd likely expected Erisi to excuse himself, the Weyrling lingered. He arched a playful brow at the older bluerider. "Sometimes the best thing about it being quiet is that you can ruin it by making some noise." R'nd liked to flirt. Erisi liked to flirt. Why couldn't they flirt?

R’nd was a bit startled by the way Erisi went with the conversation. He had figured the man would want to continue on his way and enjoy his time alone before potentially hooking up with one of his friends again. To receive some flirting, R’nd had to remind himself that he had been the one to start it. It was almost strange how he could flirt with someone and not really notice that was exactly what he was doing. He didn’t really mind, so long as it didn’t result in him receiving a black eye or broken nose. So he went with it. “That is a very good reason to like the quiet. I prefer it to not just be noise, however, but something a bit more …melodic to the ears.”

He grabbed Erisi again and pulled him quickly to him to hold the smaller man against his chest, “like that soft gasp, for example.” He ran his hands down Erisi’s back in a slow draw that ended right at the waistline, fingers only briefly teasing to go further. “Or a whimper of frustration,” R’nd whispered against the weyrling’s ear, letting his breath ghost over the lobe for several seconds before he finally stepped away again. This was probably borderline cruel to Erisi to tease him with such little things but R’nd saw it as a fun little game without any serious outcome and imagined that was how Erisi saw it as well. Given his status everyone believed he had with B’jin, it didn’t seem likely Erisi was going to try to seriously go for pulling him behind a boulder for sex.

He remembered that this was what he liked about R'nd. The man was a natural flirt and an even more natural tease. However, Erisi did not like being teased so much. R'nd should know better than to insinuate something around Erisi and not follow through with it. The Weyrling mumbled a protest as he was snatched again, lips first forming into a slight pout as he was held to R'nd. Then the man started talking, and then R'nd started getting himself into trouble. The hands smoothing down his back were a temptation, and if R'nd wanted to play games with him, he needed to be ready for Erisi to play back.

He really did love the attention, so he was properly miffed when R'nd decided to end it. The man did know how to tease. When the bluerider peeled back, Erisi took a step forward, wrapping an arm around R'nd's hips and preventing the man from slipping away again. "Or a moan of desire," he continued their conversation coyly. If R'nd thought he could get away with baiting the Weyrling, he was sorely mistaken. E'si pressed his lithe body against R'nd, head tilting against the bluerider's neck, flicking his tongue playfully against the exposed skin.

Really, R'nd trying to slip away made himself more of a challenge, and Erisi had already come to terms with the idea of getting the bluerider into bed again. It would be a pleasant victory!

R’nd was going to land himself in trouble. He had just thought about how he didn’t think Erisi would drag him behind the nearby boulder but now R’nd was wondering if he was actually going to be the one doing the dragging. The playful teasing was exciting and he could feel himself growing a bit aroused under Erisi’s attention to his neck. It was an odd spot to be in, like it was when he was with I’shan. It wasn’t really cheating, not when he wasn’t actually mated to B’jin but everyone believed they were and there was so much guilt after the fun with I’shan was over. He didn’t know how upset B’jin would be when R’nd finally found the courage to mention it to him but he didn’t think flaunting lovers of the past or present right in front of the greenrider was wise.

Still, he couldn’t stop from continuing the game and even gave a tiny moan in response to the words, “mmm, moans of desire would be my favourite sound breaking the quiet.” Daring to push the game a little further, R’nd this time let his hands travel down lower to rest on Erisi’s ass, giving it a good squeeze as he pressed their bodies tighter together. “When Charath flies next, I’ll chase and win, and enjoy your moans of desire and blissful sighs again.” It was a promise and one that sounded like it would be far too much fun, but it was also a way to continue touching the weyrling without guilt eating away at him and R’nd liked that most of all.

There were some people Erisi would regret not sleeping around with more, and R'nd was probably one of them. While he had enough people at his beck and call to sate his appetite, there was always room for more, and R'nd was a very warm lover. Their tastes were similar, and while the bluerider may not quite be a match for Valerian, he put up a good fight. It was R'nd's on fault for not spending enough time with Erisi to discover what drove the Weyrling crazy. He'd fallen into a comfortable not-relationship with Valerian because of it. They were friends first, and sex buddies a very close second.

He could be friends with R'nd, but that wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Erisi hummed softly as he felt hands press over his behind, the smile flitting back onto his face briefly when R'nd squeezed him. See, this was the side of R'nd that Erisi enjoyed. Nice for conversation, had a pretty face to look at, but that pretty much paled in comparison to what the bluerider provided in the bedroom. Arms lifted to wrap around R'nd's neck, keeping the bluerider engaged on him.

C'mon, Erisi lived for this sort of attention. There was no way he was going to give it up without a fight. "I've had a few people promise me the same thing," he responded with a light shrug of his shoulders, as if that was only to be expected. "I keep wondering why everyone wants to wait around for a flight." Really, he had a vigorous day with Valerian, he should have been fine without attention. He had been fine, but then R'nd decided to be a tease... and Erisi would tease me. "Charath doesn't nearly fly often enough to keep up with demand."

“Maybe a flight is the only time our busy schedules line up.” He liked their word games and where they usually led but this time R’nd was starting to feel cornered. It was likely wrong to tease a weyrling, even if the weyrling was Erisi, and he was fairly certain it was wrong to feel up a weyrling when your not-really-mate was down the beach. It also didn’t help that R’nd knew he was being baited and he was letting himself. He was normally one that knew his limits – though sometimes, when alcohol was involved, the known limits were acknowledged and blown right by – and as odd as it was for the man that didn’t commit to have, R’nd did posses one odd quirk. He liked to dedicate his attention to the person he was with, whether it was only for a night or longer. In his mind, that wasn’t a relationship of the weyrmated variety but something kind and what the person he was with deserved.

It was why he struggled then. B’jin deserved his attention given how close they had become but Erisi was currently the one in his arms and the sole person within the limitations of his gaze. So, didn’t that mean he was the one that should feel like he was the only one that mattered to the bluerider that had always been known for his bed-hopping?

R’nd groaned in frustration and found himself untangling himself from the green weyrling but he didn’t do the smart thing of keeping his distance. Instead, R’nd was dragging them over to that boulder that seemed to taunt him with every step, as if it knew all along what it would be party to. “You’re driving me insane, Erisi,” he growled softly but with no anger as he pressed Erisi up against the rock. I’shan had reopened the floodgates and while R’nd didn’t want to revisit every bed in Katila, he did want a little sample to remind him of what the younger man he had trapped was like. He leaned in for a kiss that was neither soft nor vicious but it did show who was in control and that Erisi was wanted right then.

But R’nd didn’t let the act linger and was soon stepping away, a playful grin placed on his lips. He was shocked over his actions, though they weren’t anything out of the ordinary from him to do with a willing partner, but it had been a while. “A little teaser for what’s to come when I win a flight.” His confidence was in full effect, which was good since his brain was shutting down from guilt.

"I think our busy schedules align right now just fine." Shells, the bluerider was already here, so why not make their time together worth it? Erisi had little interest in R'nd beyond the physical realm. At the end of the day, R'nd had an awfully nice body to be wrapped around. He liked games, but only when he won them. Erisi expected to be catered to, expected to get exactly what he wanted because he knew how desirable he was. There were few people who didn't want him, both men and women included. Shells, B'jin probably wanted him and just would never act on it. Erisi's ego was always an issue, and people like R'nd only fed it.

R'nd led him on a game of approval and disappointment. First, it seemed like the bluerider would cut their flirtations short. However, R'nd instead discovered just how easy it was to coerce Erisi to a useful position when the Weyrling was feeling compliant. Pressed up against a boulder wasn't his usual definition of fun, but the bluerider made up for it by pressing what Erisi assumed to be a willing body against him. Okay, so, the body was certainly willing. It was R'nd's mind that wasn't in the right place.

The dominant kiss sparked his desire for R'nd again, and he pressed into the bluerider. Erisi was more than content to continue their kiss, but R'nd was suddenly pushing away from him... and Erisi was not happy. Rejection never went over well with the Weyrling, and he loathed being teased when there was no payout. This was sharding stupid. Did all dragonriders use flights as an excuse to sleep with someone and avoid the guilt? Erisi knew that wasn't the case, but it certainly felt like people were less interested in fooling around with him whenever he wanted to be fooled around with, and more interested in when Charath rose.

They could have fun right now, and R'nd was being an ass. "I don't understand why you need to wait around for a flight you aren't guaranteed to win." R'nd was doing his best to be charming, but Erisi was feeling sour. He wanted R'nd pressed against him, occupying his mouth with his tongue, not using his tongue to chat his lips off.

“Are you saying you would do your best to avoid me winning? I’m a great flight partner,” R’nd could see he was upsetting the weyrling instead of playing a game with him but he wasn’t sure how to correct anything. It was clear the only way to end up with Erisi still in a good mood and not glaring at him for the rest of the trip was to sleep with him and while it wasn’t an unappealing thought, it wasn’t something R’nd was sure he wanted to do, especially right then and there. They were still on the beach and still fairly close to the camp where anyone could find them and word would get right back to B’jin.

“Erisi,” he began slowly, a pout playing on his lips as R’nd tried to sort out what to say. “My head is a mess right now. I’ve been looking forward to a tumble with you again since the Hatching feast and I would take you right now… if we weren’t where we were with the people we’re with.” Why was he so conflicted anymore! He ran his hands through his hair as he turned away from the weyrling and took a few steps away before turning back but taking five steps. He came right up against Erisi again and let one hand wander down the man’s front and rested at the waistline, not daring to dip any lower before the terms were agreed upon.

“How about a heavy make out session, I jack you off, and you remember to invite me over to see your new hut sometime?” He felt those terms were amazing on Erisi’s end though guilt was going to eat at R’nd for quite some time but he couldn’t stand having the grumpy Harper actually pissed at him.

"No, I'm saying that the likelihood of you winning is not so great that I am willing to wait five flights for you to win just so I can get into bed with you. It's sharding pointless." R'nd was drawing Erisi dangerously close to one of his well-known rants. Erisi was the one person everyone could rely on having something to complain about, whether it was important or not, silly or serious. The bluerider was giving Erisi plenty of reasons to be disgruntled, and very few reasons to show the attractive man some favor. R'nd was losing points with Erisi, and the only thing Erisi was beginning to see in the man was that he was sharding hot.

The Weyrling rolled his eyes at R'nd's excuses. He couldn't tell if they were genuine reasons for R'nd not to sleep with him, or if the bluerider got a kick out of teasing him and then leaving him out to dry. "I don't think it'd be that difficult to walk away for a little while," he grumbled as R'nd turned away from him. The man's indecision would have been amusing if not for how annoyed Erisi was with not having R'nd on his knees in front of him. He expected R'nd to make some final excuse, and leave Erisi to have to try and coerce Valerian away from work for an hour.  His friend may resist a little at first, but he was sure Valerian would cave.

Of course, R'nd could obliterate his need for Valerian entirely. He glowered up at the man as R'nd pressed to him, though he was keenly away of the hand lowering to his waistband. Oh ho, he refused to be teased again! "Back --" the first word came in a soft growl, but R'nd had managed to interrupt him with an offer that was a little too good to confuse. The Weyrling considered the bluerider for a little bit before he seemed to relent. "It makes me feel oh so wonderful that I earn JUST the bare minimum from you. But, fine." Erisi was sure he could get more than just a handy from R'nd. R'nd was a passionate lover, and Erisi was confident he could draw that passion out again.

R’nd was still at that interesting crossroads he kept stumbling upon whenever he was left alone with I’shan lately and within the last twenty minutes with Erisi. He wanted to behave, he really did! He couldn’t explain why he did and why it seemed wrong to fool around with other people but he also couldn’t deny how much fun he was having with I’shan lately either. Erisi was fun in his own way as well and even though the weyrling was obviously unhappy with the negotiations, he was willing to go with what was offered. But, was it really still offered? It likely wasn’t often that a bluerider wavered so much when it came to any form of sex but there R’nd was, unsure if he should even touch Erisi again, especially on the little beach that held an interesting memory with B’jin as well as housing that same greenrider and multiple other people not too far away.

It would be so easy to walk away right then though. Erisi was almost daring him to! If the weyrling thought such words would taunt R’nd into pushing further, he could be sorely shocked when the bluerider turned around and zipped back to the camp. Then again, maybe a little kissing and touching, like he had said. It couldn’t be too heinous a crime, right? It would keep Erisi slightly mollified as well.

Before he waffled again, R’nd had Erisi against the rock once more and engaged in a make-out session that would see hands starting to wander to fulfill his end of the bargain.

Except, naturally, something had to go wrong. Before R’nd had managed to successfully undo Erisi’s pants, he heard someone purposely clear their throat in a clear sign of wanting attention or to make their presence known. R’nd pulled away from Erisi, looking extremely guilty and nearly died where he stood when he saw who had caught him with a weyrling. If there was one downfall of sand, it was how silent it made people walking by! He felt like such a fool for not thinking of that sooner and leaving himself open for discovery. Cursing under his breath, R’nd made a hasty retreat, not chancing a word to either man since he’d only upset one and paint himself even more in the colour of scum to the other.

His only consolation was that at least it wasn’t B’jin! Now he hoped he wouldn’t be called out on his actions.

Valerian had been minding his own business, going for a stroll to escape most of the people back at the campsite, when he heard a moan. A very familiar moan. A far too familiar moan. He should have known better than to give into curiosity and continue approaching the rock that was believed to be the obstacle between him and that voice but still the blue weyrling continued on. He wasn’t surprised to see Erisi pressed up against the rock when he came into view of the oblivious couple given his friend’s specific interests and the voice he had heard multiple times in the same octave but his partner was an interesting choice.

It wasn’t so much a surprise that Erisi was with one of the hated dragonriders since a lay was a lay and even Valerian could admit to a large portion of those Impressed were good-looking. Valerian couldn’t really fault Erisi for taking an interest in that particular bluerider either since, again, even he could admit to his appeal. It was just odd that R’nd was going along with it given how utterly wrapped up he was in B’jin – though the idiot didn’t realise it himself. Neither did B’jin, truth be told, but that was part of the charm of their relationship. Valerian really hoped he was around the day the lovebirds found out they were exactly that.

Assuming R’nd wasn’t now sleeping with the weyr again and B’jin wasn’t clingy and possessive. That wouldn’t end too well if both scenarios were true. Given R’nd’s reaction and quick retreat, Valerian suspected even the bluerider knew he was standing on thin ice. Actually, Valerian wondered if R’nd even knew why he was scared because he was caught. Everyone knew his reputation before B’jin and how he was rather shameless and didn’t mind being seen kissing someone. Again, that would be fun to be around when R’nd caught up to what everyone else already knew about him and B’jin.

He waited until R’nd was well out of earshot before turning his full attention on Erisi who, naturally, was going to whine, pout, and bitch. Valerian was used to it and barely even heard most of the complaints anymore. “Oops?” He offered as his only defence and explanation for ruining whatever was supposed to happen.

If looks could kill Valerian would have been long dead by now. It was very fortunate that the glare Erisi sent Valerian's way did not induce sudden death. Just a few seconds ago he had a mouth pressed to his own and fingers wandering to delightful places, and now he was cold and alone and it was Valerian's fault. He had finally gotten the suddenly flightly bluerider into a compromising position, his absolute dimglow of a friend decided that it was the perfect time to interrupt them. For some reason or another, Valerian's presence had been enough to chase R'nd off, and he hated them both.

Talk about getting his hopes up and then crushing them within seconds of each other.  They were both going to pay horribly for this - R'nd for being a flake and Valerian for interrupting them. Since Valerian was stupid, or blessed enough to stick around, naturally Erisi's attention fell on him. It was only reasonable that his friend would be faced with the brunt of Erisi's ire. "I really didn't think you were stupid enough to not get the hint and y'know, avoid interrupting me, but color me fucking surprised." His anger would likely be fleeting, since Valerian always had a way of winning the irritable Harper over. Erisi couldn't even claim to know how Valerian managed to earn his forgiveness each time he ticked him off. If there was magic on Pern, this was proof of it.

"This is fucking fantastic," he drawled as he sunk down onto the beach. The rock that had been convenient to be pressed against was now jutting uncomfortably against his back. It was a wonder what things could be forgiven when Erisi was trying to get laid - like being pressed against hard surfaces. "Did you do that on purpose? Because, right now I'd believe it." There were few things worse on this world than an aroused Erisi with no means of sexual gratification. He'd consider Valerian, but he was currently fairly ticked off at the Harper for ruining his day to begin with.

"I hate you," and he pouted, which made it seem like he didn't hate Valerian all, but was rather just grumpy.

Valerian silently let Erisi rant at him since it was the expected response to scaring off the lover of the moment. Why the lover of the moment was R’nd when the bluerider was so infatuated with B’jin as of late was the mystery but Valerian didn’t ask for the answer; he suspected it was simply Erisi pushing for something he wanted and R’nd being a creature of habit couldn’t say no and missed the old flings in random locations. He may not have been at Katila as long as most of the inhabitants but the weyrling was still Harper-trained and naturally observant and knew habits and routines of the more well-known citizens.

“I was softly singing as I walked and just so happened to have stopped before approaching this area and cleared my throat. Then I saw, well heard you then saw you and R’nd was off and running,” Valerian shrugged with his explanation, still not concerned over the tirade against him or the grumpy declaration of hatred. Erisi was more than capable of hating someone, that much was well-documented, but this wasn’t one of those times. This was a boy who had a new toy taken away from him before he was done with it and wanted a good pouting before getting a new toy. Naturally, it would work. Valerian would have rolled his eyes and walked away on anyone else who pulled this stunt but he had an immunity to Erisi and a soft spot for his prickly friend which meant he was about to get another gift after all.

“You don’t hate me. In fact, I’d say you’re rather fond of me; more so than you are of R’nd, at that.” The bluerider wasn’t the only one with a healthy ego as Valerian proved with a few more steps before sinking down to his knees to sit before Erisi, “you only wanted him to pull one over on B’jin but you were really thinking about me and how I’m much better at getting you off.” Most would wonder which one was actually the master manipulator between the two Harpers given the way Valerian so easily crumbled to Erisi’s advances or offered himself up in such moments. Valerian believed he was the winner of that contest though with how he could easily swing Erisi’s moods with a word or lift of the eyebrow. In this case, he was offering himself up in place of R’nd, which didn’t seem like a bad offer from where he sat and no doubt Erisi would think the same thing.

"That's the shittiest lie I've heard in a long while," Erisi grumbled at Valerian. He didn't buy his friend's explanation, mostly because it suited his mood to not believe the other Harper. Besides, how could Valerian not hear them? And why choose to clear his throat just that second? It was clearly sabotage, and Erisi should be touched that Valerian was so desperate to sleep with him that he'd scare someone else off. The thought was mildly disturbing, but since it was Valerian he just let it play to his ego. Who wouldn't want him, even if it meant chasing someone off of him just to have him? He did have to wonder if this was Valerian's natural gift, being able to cater to his ego so effectively.

It was a wonder neither of them imploded from the massive girth of their egos, though Erisi did put an honest effort towards quieting Valerian's. He rolled his eyes at his friend's comment, not willing to let the man believe he was so fond of him. Yet, there was an inkling of truth in Valerian's words, and Erisi didn't have such a sweet disposition that he'd let the words slink by without comment. "It would have been nice. You have to let me get my jabs in at the man where ever possible. Besides, his boy toy hit on me first." The words were joined by a coy smile, and it was clear that Valerian was already back in Erisi's good graces.

However, it never hurt to offer oneself as a substitute. Valerian was such a good replacement too! Erisi would never verbally admit that Valerian was his favorite person to sleep with, but it was fairly obvious regardless. There was no one else he turned to so frequently, and it wasn't because Valerian was a close friend first. He was a good lay, and by now knew exactly what Erisi liked. "I suppose it wouldn't be a terrible fate to have my thoughts revolve around you..." he drawled, and then made the first move.

He did like to think that this was a very good ending to his day.